Settings:File handling:Backup

The File handling » Backup branch of Settings has the following options.

Backup files on save

If this is set, a backup of the file is created on save. This setting has three possible options:

• No backup
  When a file is saved, the original file is updated, and a backup file is not created.
• Replace extension with .BAK
  When the file is saved, the original file is copied or renamed to a backup file with the same file name and a ".BAK" extension in place of the existing extension. Changes are saved to the original file.
• Append .BAK to the existing extension
  When the file is saved, the original file is copied or renamed to a backup file with the same file name and extension, and ".BAK" is added to the filename (e.g., filename.ext.BAK). Changes are saved to the original file.

Default backup directory

Normally the directory used for the backup file is the same directory as the source file. This field allows all backup files to be created in the same backup directory. If left blank, the backup will be saved to the source file directory.

Version backup

The options here allow you to specify settings for sequentially numbered backups for file save. Note: To save version backups in the default backup directory specified above, you must include the default backup directory variable ($b) in the format (described below).

On save
If this option is selected a backup file with a version number will be saved every time a file is saved.

On automatic save
If this option is selected, a backup file with a version number will be saved every time an automatic save of an active file is executed.

On FTP save
If this option is selected, a backup file with a version number will be saved every time an FTP file is modified and saved. Note: If the Local backup directory is already specified under the "Advanced" tab for an FTP account, that directory will override this setting for files opened from that server.

Default FTP backup directory
In order to select the On FTP save item above, a local directory must be specified here as files opened from FTP servers don't exist on the local system. When a file is backed up, the account name will be created as a subfolder of the Local backup directory and further subdirectories will be created as necessary to recreate the location of the modified file on the remote server.

Format
This text field may be used to specify the format to be used for version backups. The format supports the following variables.

• File variables:
  • $b - Default backup directory
  • $p - File path
  • $n - File name
  • $e - File extension
• Time/date variables:
  • $H - Hour
  • $M - Minute
  • $d - Day
  • $m - Month
  • $y - Year
• Other variables:
  • $c - Counter
  • $u - Windows user name
  • $s - Session

Maximum number of backups
This field may be used to specify the maximum number of version backups to be saved for each file. Enter -1 here for unlimited version backups.